Chapter 136: Returned Alive Twice

Right after witnessing Rohan and Ichinose Yui being swallowed by the Monolith.

Shion and Clara reacted reflexively.

Shion ran around with her equipment, searching for any trace that might allow for tracking.

Clara immediately contacted Juyeon using the number she received when Juyeon helped her with immigration matters.

In a state of panic, she somehow managed to move her trembling lips and convey the situation.

Juyeon, grasping the severity of the situation, arrived at the scene faster than the Peacekeepers.

“···.”

Arriving at the scene, Juyeon frowned at the ominous feeling emanating from the remaining Mana residue.

Negative emotions surged within her, threatening to erupt like flames.

However.

Juyeon didn’t have time to fully experience the despair or bitterness.

Shion and Clara were present, their mental states seemingly fragile due to Rohan’s absence.

Although the Elf girl she had seen in the old Monolith footage was right before her eyes, it didn’t seem like the right time to bring up the past.

“J-Juyeon-nim··· Oppa··· Oppa···.”

“It’s okay. Rohan will come back alive. He’s capable enough.”

Juyeon hugged Clara and offered those words of comfort, but deep down, she couldn’t be certain.

It was true that Rohan had excellent survival skills and Ichinose Yui was highly skilled, but that was only when compared to the average Academy Student.

Even the most exceptional Cadets were still lacking compared to true experts.

More than anything, the number of Survivors from Monoliths was incredibly low.

Furthermore, Rohan had been caught in one twice now.

A Cadet who had even lost his country to the Void Whale disaster. What terrible misfortune.

“···.”

Juyeon comforted the two panicked girls.

She relayed the situation to the arriving Peacekeepers using her wave detection.

Based on Juyeon’s testimony, nearby security camera footage was secured.

The missing persons were officially designated.

Two first-year Cadets from Orion Academy.

Ichinose Yui and Rohan.

Juyeon directly contacted Ichinose Jun, Ichinose Yui’s father, who was focusing on business management in the Three Kingdoms Union.

Noa Frozenheart, who dictated the pecking order among the Academy City’s elite, also heard the news.

Noa arrived at the scene, panting, as if she had sprinted without any regard for pacing herself.

Seeing the dazed Shion and Clara, she realized the situation was real and began to grasp the reality of her friend’s disappearance.

Her usually vibrant eyes turned dull, like those of a dead fish.

She repeatedly berated herself, saying that if she had been with them today, she would have followed them in, and those around her barely managed to console her.

4 hours after the Monolith incident.

Ichinose Yui’s parents arrived at Academy City.

Ichinose Jun, a prominent figure known to all, rushed from the Three Kingdoms Union, his wife in his arms.

A ripple of commotion spread among the Peacekeepers and officials, but no one dared approach easily.

They knew Ichinose Jun was in a foul mood.

It was his wife who held him back.

She restrained Ichinose Jun, whose expressions became clumsier as his emotions intensified, and Ichinose Yui’s mother approached Juyeon.

She was a refined beauty with flowing black hair that caught the eye.

“General Juyeon. Ah, I should call you Instructor here.”

“It’s been a while. And I apologize… It is my duty to protect the Cadets, yet this has happened…”

“It’s not your fault, Instructor. Disasters like this are unavoidable, no matter how hard one tries.”

“···.”

“First, could you tell me about the situation in detail?”

In Juyeon’s memory, Ichinose Jun’s wife was always calm and composed, but today, that image felt strangely different.

Juyeon noticed her clasped hands trembling.

Were words of comfort about the reliable male Cadet who fell into the Dungeon with her daughter truly appropriate?

Juyeon couldn’t decide.

9 hours after Rohan and Ichinose Yui disappeared.

Peacekeepers and scholars swarmed the scene.

Noa, as well as Shion and Clara, were still present.

Exhausted, Noa lay in Juyeon’s arms, eyes closed.

Shion and Clara had regained some composure.

They knew Rohan’s abilities. They believed that even without his Skills, Rohan would somehow survive the Dungeon and return.

In the two girls’ minds, the concepts of Rohan and death simply couldn’t coexist.

“Sigh…”

Ichinose Jun lit a cigarette, something he had quit over 20 years ago.

He stood in a corner, chain-smoking in silence, Sword in hand. His wife didn’t say a word about it.

All they could do was wait.

They didn’t know how much time had passed inside the Dungeon.

Those who fell into the Dungeon through the Monolith were surely fighting for their lives, but those waiting helplessly outside were also suffering, their blood running cold.

Powerless to help the missing, they couldn’t leave, clinging to a sliver of hope.

A truly lamentable situation.

Just before 10 hours passed since their disappearance.

Wiiing—!

Ziiing—!

Shion and Clara’s smartphones vibrated simultaneously.

“!”

They held their breath at the familiar yet impossible occurrence.

They hurriedly pulled their devices from their pockets.

A message appeared in their group chat, a message that made them rub their eyes in disbelief.

[Rohan: Where are you two?]

Peeing──!

Ichinose’s Sword slashed past the Monolith situated within the mansion.

A clean Slash.

The jet-black stele slid down diagonally.

[Quest completed.]

[Reward acquired.]

[Party Full Recovery initiated.]

Kugugugu──!!!

Mana swirled around Rohan and Ichinose Yui like a typhoon.

The Dungeon floor crumbled, and their bodies floated upwards.

[Designated Return Point not found.]

[Returning to random location – Residence.]

A slightly different notification window than last time.

Rohan opened his eyes with a clear mind, the dizziness from the healing having subsided.

‘Oh…?’

Unlike when they returned from the Dungeon with Shion and Clara, it wasn’t the rooftop of some restaurant.

It wasn’t such a place, but somewhere familiar.

Lying on his back, all he could see was the familiar ceiling.

The place where Rohan and Ichinose Yui had landed was the Orion Academy boys’ Dormitory.

Specifically, Rohan’s room.

“Aeng-ae Nose? We’re back.”

Rohan nudged the girl nestled in his arms awake.

Ichinose Yui slowly lifted her head, opened her eyes, and looked around blankly.

It seemed the reality of having returned alive from the Dungeon hadn’t sunk in yet.

“Where…?”

“The Academy Dormitory. My room.”

Rohan’s room. Those words brought life back to the girl’s eyes.

Pushing aside the rising thoughts, Ichinose Yui remembered the most urgent matter.

“Ro, Rohan! We can talk later…! Let’s go to the hospital quickly!”

“It’s alright. I’m perfectly fine.”

“…?”

To the confused girl, Rohan held out his arm.

Beneath the blood-soaked and tattered Academy Uniform, his skin was pristine.

“What is…?”

“Aeng-ae Nose, check your wounds too.”

Although her torn Academy Uniform hadn’t been restored, as Rohan said, all the wounds on her body had healed.

Simultaneously, Ichinose Yui recalled the information Rohan had left with the Public Security Bureau.

“…Come to think of it, you said this happened last time too, Rohan.”

“Right. I wonder if this has happened to anyone else?”

When Rohan nonchalantly asked, Ichinose Yui shook her head.

Among the Survivors, Rohan was the only one who had experienced this.

“Shall we get up? A lot of people will be worried. We should contact them.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Ichinose Yui realized she had been lying on top of Rohan.

The suggestive position, reminiscent of lovers, made her speechless.

Springing up like a jack-in-the-box, Ichinose Yui stumbled back and pressed herself against the Dormitory wall.

Rohan smiled at the sight and plugged his dying smartphone into the charger.

“…Ro, Rohan.”

“Hmm?”

“When we’re questioned… you know, right?”

“Only mention what’s necessary?”

Ichinose Yui vigorously nodded at Rohan’s answer and took out her smartphone.

As she made a call, Rohan continued to ponder.

‘Clara? Shion? Instructor? Public Security Bureau?’

While thinking about who to call first, Rohan sent a message to the group.

Not even three seconds later, his phone rang.

[Clara]

After going through so much, he missed Shion and Clara.

Although not much time had passed here compared to the Dungeon, he was worried about how they were doing.

Smiling, Rohan answered the call.

─ O, Oppa!? Where are you? How are you? Are you alright?

─ Rohan! Where are you? I’m coming right now!

Shion and Clara’s urgent voices poured out in a rush.

“I’m at the Dormitory. My room. I’m fine.”

─ D, Dormitory? I’m coming now!

─ Stay there and don’t move!

The call ended with the sound of a commotion.

Ichinose Yui, who also finished her call, poked Rohan.

“What is it?”

“…M, My parents are coming to Academy City.”

“That’s natural. They must have been very worried.”

As Rohan smiled, Ichinose Yui lowered her head to hide her flushed face.

It was inevitable that her parents would meet Rohan.

This painted a certain future in the girl’s mind.